CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program

In early November, the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) issued a GiveCard to San Francisco CalFresh households. The GiveCard is a one-time prepaid grocery card to help people buy healthy food and reduce financial stress in advance of the holiday season.  

This emergency grocery aid program is a partnership with Mayor Daniel Lurie, the Crankstart Foundation, and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
 

Program Update: November 17, 2025

  • November CalFresh benefits have been fully restored.
  • In addition to regular CalFresh benefits, the GiveCard continues to be available to San Francisco CalFresh households. This does NOT affect your CalFresh benefit amount or eligibility.
  • CalFresh households in San Francisco who have not received a letter but believe they are eligible for one, please call SFHSA at (855) 355-5757.  We can also assist with activating a card and unlocking a physical card.
  • GiveCards must be activated by December 31, 2025, and the funds must be used by March 31, 2026. 

For GiveCard details, view our Frequently Asked Questions.
Partners can access outreach materials and a program toolkit on the Community Partners page. 


How to access the GiveCard

CalFresh households were sent a letter from SFHSA about how to access their card. The letter includes a unique activation code and instructions on how to access the card virtually or request a physical card.  

CalFresh recipients can access their card as a virtual card immediately or request a physical card in the mail, which will arrive in five to seven business days.  

If you did not receive a letter but believe you are eligible for a GiveCard, please call SFHSA at (855) 355-5757.  We can also assist with activating a card and unlocking a physical card for recipients who requested one using their activation code and received it in the mail.  


How to prevent fraud 

CalFresh recipients will be prompted to provide information that is unique to them in order to activate and access their grocery card. Clients will never be asked to give their Social Security number or bank account information to access their card.  GiveCard, the grocery card vendor, will provide customer and fraud prevention support.   
 

Check back for updates

SFHSA will provide more information as it becomes available. 

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